Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flanagan up for 2017 challenge

No worries: Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan enjoys a joke at training last season with hooker Michael Ennis. Picture: Chris Lane

New year, same Cronulla Sharks.

Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan is adamant his team are ready for the challenge as the Sharks face one of the busiest starts to the year of any NRL club.

As well as the Auckland Nines tournament on February 4 and 5 and a trial against Brisbane on the same weekend, the reigning NRL premiers head to the UK for the World Club Challenge against Super League side Wigan on February 19.

It has been a glorious summer for Sharks fans as they have basked in the glory of their first premiership, won thanks to a thrilling grand final victory over Melbourne in October.

But Flanagan told the club’s website it was time to move on to the next test, starting with the season opener against the Broncos at Southern Cross Group Stadium on March 2 – five months to the day since the greatest in the club’s history.

“At some stage we have to put [last season] behind us. While it was a fantastic year and everyone enjoyed it … we’ve got to look forward to 2017,” Flanagan said.